ISO 16750-2 Road Vehicles - Environmental Conditions and Testing of Electrical and Electronic Equipment - Part 2: Electrical Loads

The standard "ISO 16750-2 Road vehicles - Environmental conditions and testing of electrical and electronic equipment - Part 2: Electrical loads," developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), describes the requirements for electrical and electronic systems or components in road vehicles. This standard describes the potential environmental stresses and includes tests and requirements for specific installation locations on or inside the road vehicle. This standard defines electrical loads.

However, this standard does not apply to environmental requirements or testing of systems and components for motorcycles and mopeds. Furthermore, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is outside the scope of this standard.

Electrical loads are independent of installation location, but can vary depending on electrical impedance, including both resistance and inductance, in the vehicle wiring harness and connection system.

ISO 16750-2 is a critical international standard. It applies to electrical and electronic systems and components used in road vehicles, outlining the environmental stresses these systems may encounter and specifying the tests and requirements required to ensure their reliability and performance under various electrical load conditions. This standard focuses on electrical loads affecting electrical and electronic systems in road vehicles, excluding motorcycles and mopeds. It addresses the potential environmental stresses associated with electrical conditions and defines standard test methods and requirements tailored to the specific installation locations of components in a vehicle.

This standard does not specifically cover electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), as this topic is addressed in other standards such as IEC CISPR 12 and 25. The electrical loads considered are independent of the installation location but may vary depending on factors such as the electrical impedance in the vehicle's wiring harness and connection system.

The ISO 16750-2 standard provides a comprehensive set of tests to simulate the electrical stresses that vehicle components may encounter during operation. These tests ensure that systems can withstand various electrical conditions without failure. The main test categories covered by this standard and their details are as follows:

• Direct current (DC) supply voltage: The purpose of this test is to verify that components operate correctly across a variety of supply voltages. During the test, components are subjected to different DC voltage levels specified in predefined tables to simulate normal and extreme operating conditions. All device functions under test must remain fully operational within the specified voltage ranges (Class A as defined in ISO 16750-1).
• Overvoltage:
  • Long-term overvoltage: Tests the component's ability to withstand sustained high voltage, for example, during a jump-start scenario.
  • Transient overvoltage: Evaluates the resistance to short-term voltage increases that may occur due to electrical transients in the vehicle system.
• Superimposed alternating voltage: The purpose of this test is to evaluate performance when an alternating voltage is applied to the DC supply. The test applies an AC voltage (up to 200 kHz) to the DC supply to simulate electrical noise or ripple effects. Components must maintain functionality without degradation.
• Slowly decreasing and increasing the supply voltage: The purpose of this test is to simulate gradual changes in supply voltage, such as those that occur during battery discharge or charging. During the test, the voltage is slowly decreased and increased to test the component's response to these changes. The components must operate reliably without failure.
• Interruptions in the supply voltage:
  • Dips or interruptions: Tests for brief voltage dips or interruptions by simulating problems such as loose connections.
  • Voltage drop reset behavior: Evaluates how components recover after a voltage drop.
  • Startup profile: Simulates the voltage profile during vehicle start-up.
  • Load dump: Tests the resistance to high voltage transients caused by the sudden disconnection of a load such as a battery.
• Reverse voltage: The purpose of this test is to ensure that components can withstand reverse polarity conditions that may occur due to incorrect wiring. During the test, reverse voltage is applied to the component. Components must either operate normally or handle this condition safely without damage.
• Ground reference and supply offset: The purpose of this test is to test performance when there is an offset between ground references or supply voltages. This method simulates differences in ground potential or supply offsets in the vehicle's electrical system. Components must maintain functionality under these conditions.
• Open circuit tests:
  • Single line outage: Tests the effect of a single connection outage.
  • Multi-link outage: Evaluates performance when multiple connections are down.
• Short-circuit/overload protection: The purpose of this test is to ensure that components are protected against short-circuits and overloads. These tests include short-circuit tests on signal and load circuits, as well as overload tests on load circuits. Components must either withstand the load or fail safely without causing further system damage.
• Withstand voltage and insulation resistance:
  • Withstand voltage: Tests the component's ability to withstand high voltages without failure.
  • Insulation resistance: Measures the resistance of the insulation to prevent unwanted current flow.

In these tests, components must meet specified voltage and resistance thresholds.

• Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC): EMC is explicitly excluded in this standard, but this standard refers to relevant EMC standards (e.g. IEC CISPR 12 and 25) for comprehensive testing.

The ISO 16750-2 standard plays a vital role in ensuring the reliability and safety of electrical and electronic systems in road vehicles. As vehicles increasingly rely on complex electronic systems for functions such as autonomous driving, infotainment, and power management, this standard ensures that components can withstand the harsh electrical environments they encounter. Manufacturers and suppliers use this standard to validate their components and ensure compliance with international quality and safety standards. This reduces the risk of failure, improves vehicle safety, and supports the development of powerful automotive technologies.

As a result, the ISO 16750-2 standard is a fundamental tool for the automotive industry, providing a structured framework for testing electrical and electronic components under various electrical load conditions. Its comprehensive test categories and updated requirements reflect the evolving complexity of vehicle systems. By adhering to this standard, manufacturers can ensure their components are reliable, safe, and capable of performing in the challenging conditions of modern road vehicles.

Our organization, which has been operating for many years and meticulously follows global developments in science and technology, employs a team of experienced professionals and a broad infrastructure to conduct testing, measurement, and analysis in a wide range of areas for businesses across all sectors. In this context, we also provide testing services in accordance with the ISO 16750-2 Road vehicles - Environmental conditions and testing of electrical and electronic equipment - Part 2: Electrical loads standard.